IT’S obvious that in this life we are
always exposed to
all kinds of impurities, toxins and other harmful elements. That’s
unavoidable. We try to avoid them, of course, improving on our hygiene
and sanitation, and undertaking preventive measures, such as
prophylaxis.
But even our best efforts can only go so far. Besides, we
should be realistic enough to acknowledge that we should not overdo
the preventive measures, since we might end up isolating ourselves
from the real world, living in a kind of greenhouse.
Besides, being too clean, we might just be setting
ourselves in the end for a graver predicament. We have to learn to
swim in the water, dirty though it may be, and not outside of it. We
just have to acquire a certain immunity to at least some of these
destructive organisms so we can live our life as normally as possible.
We actually are somehow endowed with a built-in defense
mechanism in our bodily system. We have some natural antibodies to
neutralize harmful bacteria and other poisonous elements that get into
us.
What we lack in this department we try to make up by
producing appropriate antibodies and antidotes through vaccinations.
Some antigens in controlled amounts are inoculated into our body with
the aim of triggering the production of the corresponding antibodies.
Of course, all this has to be done with extreme care and
prudence. Some vaccines have side-effects that can be worse than the
intended effect. And even the good and safe ones need to be
administered with great care, because not everyone has the same
expected reaction. Some contra-indications have to be made clear,
before giving them out.
In our spiritual and moral life, something similar takes
place. With our conscience, we have some natural mechanisms to help us
identify what is right and wrong, and to behave accordingly. It’s
important that we give due attention to the care of our conscience. We
just cannot leave it alone, growing and developing on its own.
We have to realize that our conscience needs to be trained
and formed also. Due to our weakened condition, it may come out, at
least in some instances, doubtful, perplexed, scrupulous, lax, or
outright erroneous. It has to be given the proper moral principles and
supported by virtues to facilitate its work.
A thorough personal examination of the conditions of each
case should be made so the proper advice and counsel can be
prescribed. That’s why a personal spiritual direction or counseling or
mentoring is always recommendable.
Every effort has to be made to put or to restore the good
spiritual and moral health of the person. And this can mean helping
one to develop a certain immunity against the moral evils around.
The ideal in this regard, of course, is to work for an
abiding and functioning identification with Christ. It is only through
him when we can aspire to have a certain dominion over our weaknesses,
our temptations and trials, and our falls and sins.
With him, not only would we not be scandalized by evil,
but also would be most eager and able to transform evil into good.
With him, we would not only be patient and tolerant with the
unavoidable evils, but also capable of turning the tables on them.
Let’s remember how he handled the temptations at the end
of his 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert before he started
his public life. Let’s savor his attitude and reactions to the sins
and the sinners. Since he gives himself completely to us, we can say
that what he can do, we can also do, but always with him.
We need to have the mind and will of Christ, to have his
thoughts, desires and longing. We need to adopt his ways which he
shows us so eloquently. He reassures us that he will refresh us and
that his yoke is easy and his burden light as long as we learn from
him to be meek and humble.
The secret to be effectively identified with Christ is to
be meek and humble like him who allowed anything to happen to him but
yet firm and unmovable in his obedience to his Father’s will.
We have to be wary of our tendency to be proud and
self-assertive, manifested in our inclination to rely more on our
opinions, views and preferences rather than consulting God’s will and
adopting God’s ways.
Yes, we can have a certain immunity against our weakness,
temptations and sins if we just follow more and more fully the ways of
Christ.
all kinds of impurities, toxins and other harmful elements. That’s
unavoidable. We try to avoid them, of course, improving on our hygiene
and sanitation, and undertaking preventive measures, such as
prophylaxis.
But even our best efforts can only go so far. Besides, we
should be realistic enough to acknowledge that we should not overdo
the preventive measures, since we might end up isolating ourselves
from the real world, living in a kind of greenhouse.
Besides, being too clean, we might just be setting
ourselves in the end for a graver predicament. We have to learn to
swim in the water, dirty though it may be, and not outside of it. We
just have to acquire a certain immunity to at least some of these
destructive organisms so we can live our life as normally as possible.
We actually are somehow endowed with a built-in defense
mechanism in our bodily system. We have some natural antibodies to
neutralize harmful bacteria and other poisonous elements that get into
us.
What we lack in this department we try to make up by
producing appropriate antibodies and antidotes through vaccinations.
Some antigens in controlled amounts are inoculated into our body with
the aim of triggering the production of the corresponding antibodies.
Of course, all this has to be done with extreme care and
prudence. Some vaccines have side-effects that can be worse than the
intended effect. And even the good and safe ones need to be
administered with great care, because not everyone has the same
expected reaction. Some contra-indications have to be made clear,
before giving them out.
In our spiritual and moral life, something similar takes
place. With our conscience, we have some natural mechanisms to help us
identify what is right and wrong, and to behave accordingly. It’s
important that we give due attention to the care of our conscience. We
just cannot leave it alone, growing and developing on its own.
We have to realize that our conscience needs to be trained
and formed also. Due to our weakened condition, it may come out, at
least in some instances, doubtful, perplexed, scrupulous, lax, or
outright erroneous. It has to be given the proper moral principles and
supported by virtues to facilitate its work.
A thorough personal examination of the conditions of each
case should be made so the proper advice and counsel can be
prescribed. That’s why a personal spiritual direction or counseling or
mentoring is always recommendable.
Every effort has to be made to put or to restore the good
spiritual and moral health of the person. And this can mean helping
one to develop a certain immunity against the moral evils around.
The ideal in this regard, of course, is to work for an
abiding and functioning identification with Christ. It is only through
him when we can aspire to have a certain dominion over our weaknesses,
our temptations and trials, and our falls and sins.
With him, not only would we not be scandalized by evil,
but also would be most eager and able to transform evil into good.
With him, we would not only be patient and tolerant with the
unavoidable evils, but also capable of turning the tables on them.
Let’s remember how he handled the temptations at the end
of his 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert before he started
his public life. Let’s savor his attitude and reactions to the sins
and the sinners. Since he gives himself completely to us, we can say
that what he can do, we can also do, but always with him.
We need to have the mind and will of Christ, to have his
thoughts, desires and longing. We need to adopt his ways which he
shows us so eloquently. He reassures us that he will refresh us and
that his yoke is easy and his burden light as long as we learn from
him to be meek and humble.
The secret to be effectively identified with Christ is to
be meek and humble like him who allowed anything to happen to him but
yet firm and unmovable in his obedience to his Father’s will.
We have to be wary of our tendency to be proud and
self-assertive, manifested in our inclination to rely more on our
opinions, views and preferences rather than consulting God’s will and
adopting God’s ways.
Yes, we can have a certain immunity against our weakness,
temptations and sins if we just follow more and more fully the ways of
Christ.
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